| Notes |
- The Handbook of Texas
Houston A.P. Bassett (1857-1920)
Houston A.P. Bassett, a black man who represented Grimes County in the Texas House of Representatives during the Twentieth Legislature, was born on March 14, 1857, in Grimes County, the son of poor farmers. He did not attend school until he was ten years old but was able to enroll in Straight University in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1875. From 1879 to 1882 he attended Fish University in Nashville, Tennessee. He returned to Grimes County, where he became active in Republican party politics. In 1886 he won election to the House. J.P.S. Thompson, his opponent, alleged that ineligible voters had aided Bassett's victory, but the House Committee on Privileges and Elections ruled in Bassett's favor because Thompson lacked sufficient proof.
Bassett resided in Anderson during his single term in the legislature. He sat on the Educational Affairs, Stock and Stock Raising, and Military Affairs committees. He also served as chairman of a special committee that investigated the state insane asylum, introduced legislation to permit the chartering of cooperative associations, and attempted to secure a state constitutional amendment that would temporarily exempt capital investments in manufacturing from taxation. Bassett also tried to increase the amount of money that the state received from the leave of convicted felons. He married Cordelia Foster on September 9, 1886, and the couple had four children. Bassett was an active member of a Baptist Church. He died on July 17, 1920, in Grimes County
1880 Federal Census of District 13, Davidson County, Tennessee
H.A.P. Bassett - B - 22 - M - TX-GA-GA - Other - Student
(Living with Isaac Clark family)
1900 Federal Census of Precinct 1, Grimes County, Texas (29 Jun 1900)
Houston Bassett - B - 43 - M - Mar 1857 - TX-GA-GA - Head - Farmer
Cordelia - B - 36 - F - Oct 1865 - TX-TX-LA - Wife
Ralph - B - 13 - M - Mar 1887 - TX-TX-TX - Son - At School
Pliny - B - 11 - M - Dec 1888 - TX-TX-TX - Son - At School
Robert - B - 7 - M - Aug 1891 - TX-TX-TX - Son
(Married 14 years, 4 children, 3 living)
1910 Federal Census of Precinct 1, Grimes County, Texas (28 Apr 1910)
Houston Bassett - B - 52 - M - TX-GA-GA - Head - Farmer General Farm
Cordelia - B - 47 - F- TX-Unknown-Unknown - Wife - Farm Laborer Home Farm
Ralph - B - 22 - M - TX-TX-TX - Son - Student
Ira - B - 20 - M - TX-TX-TX - Son - Teacher Public School
(Married 23 years, 4 children, 2 living)
1920 Federal Census of Anderson, Grimes County, Texas (27 Feb 1920)
Houston Bassett - B- 62- M - TX-GA-GA - Head - Farmer General Farm
Cordelia - M - 52 - F - LA-LA-LA - Wife
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1857 - 1920 (63 years)